PA Environment Digest Blog: Friday PA Environment & Energy Articles

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion]

Senate Voting Schedule

October 27, 28, 29

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

House Voting Schedule

October 27, 28, 29

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

WARNING: This Is Budget Season, Watch Out For Anything!

October 25-- Pike/Wayne Conservation Districts Host Student Stream Keepers Programs In Carlton Drake Memorial Park, Wayne County

October 25-- Virtual. Pennsylvania Wilds: Kicks Off Holiday Shopping Season With Online Makers Market.

October 28-- House Energy Committee holds meeting to consider House Resolution 350 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) urging President and Congress to maintain LIHEAP funding. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

October 29-- Agenda Posted. House Energy Committee holds hearing on House Bill 1539 (Madsen-D-Dauphin) establishing a grant program to assist school districts in transitioning to electric school buses. Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part I: PA Utility Law Project - Utility Terminations Up 30% Already; Prioritize Existing Loads; Centers Need To Help Pay For Utility Assistance [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part II: PA Consumer Advocate - PUC Should Set Conditions For Centers To Be Served By The Grid; Set Power Curtailment Priorities [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part III: PJM Market Monitor - Data Centers Have Cost Existing Ratepayers $16.6 Billion Already; Centers Should Bring Their Own Power Generation To Prevent More Large Price Spikes [PaEN]

-- PUC Votes To Suspend, Investigate PPL Electric's Proposed 7%, $356 Million Rate Increase [PaEN]

-- Erie 2030 District Property Partners Achieve $4.5 Million In Energy Savings, 18.9% Reduction In Energy Demand [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: Reliance On Natural Gas For Power Generation Will Worsen Energy Affordability Crisis - By Cassady Craighill, GridLab

-- Erie Times: National Fuel Gas Buys Ohio Utility For $2.62 Billion, What Does That Mean To Customers In Erie?

-- DCNR, Local Partners Plant 700 Trees Along York County Stream To Improve Local Water Quality

-- Penn State Extension AgWorks Law Webinar Nov. 18: Protecting Your Business - Clear Limits Of Federal Homeland Security, ICE Authority In ICE Raids, I-9 Audits For Farm, Food Employers, Noon to 2:00 p.m.

-- WHYY: ‘Philly Ain’t Playing:’ City Steps Up Anti-Dumping Enforcement Efforts

-- October 25 Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- WESA: Pittsburgh-based LandForce Saw Mill Opens In Wilkinsburg To Reclaim, Harvest Fallen Urban Trees

-- DCNR Oct. 23 to 29 Fall Foliage Report - Vibrant Foliage Can Be Seen Across The Commonwealth

-- Pike County Open Space, Greenways, Recreation Plan Update Available For Public Review

-- Lancaster Conservancy Announces Acquisition Of 180 Acres In York County To Establish The Eagle View Nature Preserve; Solidifies Opposition To Cuffs Run Pump-Hydroelectric Facility [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Preserves Nearly 14 Acres In Bucks County To Add To State Game Lands [PaEN]

-- Lehigh Valley Wildlands Conservancy Highlights Upcoming Experiences: Campfire Conversations; New Perseverance Trail; Outdoor Classroom

-- Post-Gazette - Bob Frye: Drought Conditions, Low And Warm Water Delay Fall Trout Stocking

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- DEP: Contaminated Water From EQM Gathering (EQT) Double Pipeline Construction Site Traveled Nearly 2 Football Fields From Site Of Spill In Nottingham Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

-- Today’s Violation: DEP notified of a 882 gallon spill of crude oil at the John D. Branch conventional oil tank farm in City of Warren. Cleanup almost done. Violations issued/closed. Read more here.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP inspection of Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC Thorne to Hillis Riser Pipeline route in Apolacon Township, Susquehanna County found the owner failed to permanently address slope failure and E&S violations for 1,440 days. Work expected in 2026. Read more here.

A.I. /Data Centers

-- TribLive: Springdale Zoning Board Considers A.I. Data Center Developer’s Changes To Plans, Including Making The Building Taller, In Allegheny County

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part I: PA Utility Law Project - Utility Terminations Up 30% Already; Prioritize Existing Loads; Centers Need To Help Pay For Utility Assistance [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part II: PA Consumer Advocate - PUC Should Set Conditions For Centers To Be Served By The Grid; Set Power Curtailment Priorities [PaEN]

-- PUC Votes To Suspend, Investigate PPL Electric's Proposed 7%, $356 Million Rate Increase [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: Reliance On Natural Gas For Power Generation Will Worsen Energy Affordability Crisis - By Cassady Craighill, GridLab

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- PennLive - John Baer: Who Wins PA’s Yes/No PA Supreme Court Retention Votes And Why

-- Spotlight PA: State Budget Impasse Continues As PA Lawmakers Travel Abroad, Hold Pricey Fundraisers

-- Greenlee Partners Calendar Of Upcoming PA Senate/House Fundraising Events

-- Post-Gazette: PA Colleges, Students Feel Strains Of State Budget Impasse

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate/Treasurer Stacy Garrity Blasts Shapiro’s Book Deal During PA Budget Standoff